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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to not turn on heating

243 replies

mailfuckoff · 09/01/2018 11:51

I have trouble with spending money on myself and for looking after myself. It's cold and I'm working from home. If the kids were here I would turn on the heating but it seems wasteful for just me. However I have a few layers and a blanket and I'm cold. Do you turn on the heating just for you.

OP posts:

Khaleesi0 · 10/01/2018 18:02

It costs me £200 a month to heat my house... it’s just me but I can’t stand a cold house :(

Jassylaunderette · 10/01/2018 18:09

It costs me £200 a month to heat my house... it’s just me but I can’t stand a cold house sad

Our heating costs a lot more than that, and I'm the sort who won't heat the whole house when it's just me at home.

speakout · 10/01/2018 18:18

£200 in heating a month??

How big are your houses?

I have a 5 bedroomed house, large downstairs space, I work from home and heating is on a lot.
Gas and electric cost me £125 a month.

Turquoise123 · 10/01/2018 18:21

Nope - I do what you do. And I save a large amount.....

Each to their own eh ?

pollymere · 10/01/2018 18:24

Don't feel bad, if it's cold you need to put heating on. You're just as important as everyone else!

Shell4429 · 10/01/2018 18:34

I don’t understand this at all. I grew up without central heating and it was miserable. I wonder how many of you freeze indoors but drive gas guzzling cars. Also it’s not good for a house to be cold, damp, mould, pipes freezing. You can wear as many layers as you like but you’re still breathing in cold air, which can make it easier to catch viruses.

Groovee · 10/01/2018 18:36

I have fibromyalgia so a warm house is a necessity for me!

Mummadeeze · 10/01/2018 18:45

I have it on 24 most of the time. It goes off on a timer in the day as no one is in, but if I was I would override the thermostat because I hate being cold. I would prioritise paying for a warm house over pretty much everything else. We only live in a small flat though so I guess that helps with costs.

LoniceraJaponica · 10/01/2018 18:46

I agree Shell4429

Fair enough if you can't afford to heat your house, but the competitive "hard" mumsnetters love to post on here to say that their central heating is superfluous.

I have spent many winters shivering in a cold house. Now that we can afford to keep warm, and reduce our carbon footprint with our solar panels I refuse to martyr myself any more.

MargaretCavendish · 10/01/2018 18:47

If you can't afford to heat the house then that's one (really tough) thing and you have my full sympathy.

However, if you can afford it... The 'why would I heat the house for little old me' thing is so annoying. If you're genuinely happier in a cold house then fine, but otherwise put the bloody heating on. There aren't any medals for 'greatest sufferer's.

purplebunny2012 · 10/01/2018 18:51

DH works from home and doesn't put the heating on.
I so would, though

caringcarer · 10/01/2018 18:52

I put heating on if cold. My priority is not to get ill. Besides it you let house get cold the heating has to go on really high to warm rooms up. My sister insists on layering up and putting blanket over her. You can only spend your money once so depends what your priorities ate. However you should not think so little of yourself you put it on for others but not yourself.

Jessikita · 10/01/2018 18:56

I refuse to be cold. I wear a vest, long sleeve t short and jumper or cardie, thick jeans and socks and slippers and still have the heating on 21 when I’m in. If I’m doing housework or ironing I’ll drop it to 20.

It’s got to the point where I won’t go around certain friends’ houses as it’s just too cold.

Knittingsavesme · 10/01/2018 19:50

Ha ha you could be me, as that is exactly how I dress when WFH! You need a pair of fingerless gloves for the mouse - works a treat. It’s such a pain if you have to join a video conference call. Mind you I look respectful on top and nobody sees all the layers beneath the table, including my dressing gown wrapped round my legs.

ButchyRestingFace · 10/01/2018 19:53

I have a pet parrot. I have to keep the heating on for him.

that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it. 😍😬

Jassylaunderette · 10/01/2018 19:58

How big are your houses? I have a 5 bedroomed house, large downstairs space, I work from home and heating is on a lot.
Gas and electric cost me £125 a month.

Very big. Four storey old building, detached.

speakout · 10/01/2018 20:00

I grew up in a freezing house.
Only one coal fire in the living room, no central heating. I used to scrape the ice off the inside of my bedroom windows, I would watch my breath as I lay in bed. When it was really bad my mother would put a paraffin heater in my bedroom which would belch out blue smoke and fumes.
Every year during primary school I was off school for two or three months because of bronchitis.
It was utterly miserable.

I now like my home warm and comfortable.

cheval · 10/01/2018 20:21

I used to shiver at home. Didn’t start work til 3pm, when I was so happy to get into car and get the heater going. Sometimes I would light couple of gas burners on hob in kitchen to warm me up. And I was the one paying the bills! House toasty warm on timer for when kids and ex got home. By the time I got back, it was cold again. I must have been stark staring mad, looking back on it! I was saving money, yes, but only me suffering!

Loki1983 · 10/01/2018 20:32

I don’t even like getting in to a cold house so will programme it to come on an hour before we get home. If I’m off work and in and out of home thoughout the day, it stays on constant. I can’t stand being uncomfortable in my own home and don’t like layering at home either!

metacrisis · 10/01/2018 20:39

That's actually quite insulting. It's not about being a martyr. I have to heat the whole house if I put it on, it just doesn't make sense to spend the money on heating the whole place when I'm the only one in it. I could afford it, but I would have to not spend on other things, things I value. You get used to it.
The heat is on and the house is warm when the children are here, and when there are guests. Otherwise it usually isn't. But what's it to you? Why are you judging?

bananafish81 · 10/01/2018 21:02

in my opinion, to heat a whole house for one person. It's not self esteem issues, more environmental

So if DH is away I should just freeze in my own home because it would be wasteful for me to have the heating on for just me?

What about people who live by themselves? Should they never have the heating on?

We don't have a car. We don't go on holidays abroad. We can't have children so there's only two of us. I refuse to sit in a cold house if I don't have to!

We have the heating set to 20-22 - I'm already wearing two pairs of socks and a big jumper, I don't want to have to dress up in my thermals just to sit in my own home. We are lucky enough to be able to afford to heat the home however we choose - so we're damn well going to use it!

metacrisis · 10/01/2018 21:07

So if DH is away I should just freeze in my own home because it would be wasteful for me to have the heating on for just me?

Who said what you should do? No-one. They talked about themselves and their opinions. Dont' be so self absorbed.

OJZJ · 10/01/2018 21:14

ApplesTheHare .....me too! Spent many a year refusing to heat a place with just me in it.... yet put heating on when off out to work for the dog esp as she got older..... nowadays I will stick my heating on as and when needed and sod being cold!

Pgs007 · 10/01/2018 21:18

Yea.. I've had heating on low constantly since October, daughter is at school so most the time it's just me, I like to be warm tho

LoniceraJaponica · 10/01/2018 21:31

"I have to heat the whole house if I put it on"

So why don't you buy a heater so you can just heat the room you are in?

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